aquatic species fact cards - illinois.gov...superclass osteichthyes class actinopterygii location -...

Aquatic Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural Resources

The Aquatic Species Fact Cards can be used to support the lessons inUnits 1 and 2. They can also be used independently for students to learn more about these speciesand to encourage further research.

STUDENT ACTIVITY PAGE | Aquatic Species Fact Cards

Aquatic Illinois

Aquatic SpeciesFact Cards

Kingdom BacteriaPhylum Cyanobacteria

LOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - chlorophyll a; some have gas bubbles thatallow them to float; may form filaments or clustersHABITAT - any moist environment; tolerant of extremeconditionsHABITS - most are photosynthetic; carry out nitrogenfixation

Kingdom Chromalveolate Phylum HeterokontophytaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES – saprophytic or parasitic; cellulose in cellwalls; may cause disease in fishes and their eggsHABITAT - some aquatic, some terrestrialHABITS - often found on dead organisms in water; addsnutrients to surrounding area

wate

r

blu

e-



Kingdom Chromalveolate Phylum HeterokontophytaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - saprophytic or parasitic; cellulose in cellwalls; may cause disease in fishes and their eggsHABITAT - some aquatic, some terrestrialHABITS - often found on dead organisms in water; addsnutrients to surrounding area

wate

r m

old

blu

e-g

reen a

lgae

Equal opportunity to participate in programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and those funded by the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service and other agencies is available to all individuals regardless of race, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion or other non-merit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source’s civil rights office and/or the Equal EmploymentOpportunity Officer, IDNR, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271; 217/785-0067; TTY 217/782-9175. This informationmay be provided in an alternative format if required. Contact the DNR Clearinghouse at 217/782-7498 for assistance.

Aquatic Illinois © 2011, Illinois Department of Natural ResourcesDNR 156 – 6/12 • IOCI 12-0831



mayfl

y

larg

e-



Kingdom Chromalveolate Phylum HeterokontophytaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES – saprophytic or parasitic; cellulose in cellwalls; may cause disease in fishes and their eggsHABITAT - some aquatic, some terrestrialHABITS - often found on dead organisms in water; addsnutrients to surrounding area

wate

r

blu

e-g

reen a

lgae

Micropterus salmoidesKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataSuperclass OsteichthyesClass ActinopterygiiLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - upper jaw extends beyond back of eye whenmouth is closed; dark lateral stripe along length of bodyHABITAT - lakes, ponds, sluggish rivers

Kingdom Animalia Phylum AnnelidaClass ClitellataLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - sucker at each end of the body; seg-mented, flattened body; hermaphroditesHABITAT - water or moist areas on landHABITS - many are external parasites, feeding on theblood of fishes, turtles, amphibians, water birds andsnails; others are predators or scavengers; can survivefor months between meals

leech

hyd

ra

Kingdom ProtozoaLOCATION statewide - nativeFEATURES - lack chloroplasts and cell walls; unicellular;heterotrophsHABITAT - aquatic or parasiticHABITS - amoebas and relatives may secrete shells;some are covered with cilia; capture other organisms

Kingdom Animalia Phylum PoriferaLOCATION - only where water is clear and free ofdebris - nativeFEATURES - simple; multicellular; sessileHABITAT - clear waterHABITS – filter-feeder, eating small organisms and parti-cles in the water that passes through its body

sponge

pro

tozo

a

Kingdom Animalia Phylum CnidariaClass HydrozoaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - polyp is the typical life form; radial symmetry;nematocysts or “stinging cells” are found in the tentaclesHABITAT - bottom substrate of slow-moving waterHABITS - carnivore; eats small organisms trapped by itstentacles



Acer saccharinumKingdom Plantae Division TracheophytaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - may reach 100 feet tall; bark gray or sil-ver; leaves white on lower surface; winged seedsHABITAT - bottomland woodsHABITS - flowers late February to early April

silv

er

maple

wate

r lo

tus

Typha latifoliaKingdom Plantae Division TracheophytaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - smooth, upright,unbranched stems up to 12

feet tall; leaves elongated and pointed at tip; many flow-ers in a dense spikeHABITAT - marshes or other wet areasHABITS - spreads by seeds or rhizomes; flowers June-September

Quercus palustrisKingdom Plantae Division TracheophytaLOCATION - scattered throughout Illinois - nativeFEATURES - may grow to 75 feet; lower branchesdroop; acorns 1-4 togetherHABITAT - flood plain woods, along streams, edges ofswamps and pondsHABITS - flowers April-May with the male and femaleflowers on the same tree

pin

oak

com

mon c

at-

tail

Nelumbo luteaKingdom Plantae Division TracheophytaLOCATION - scattered throughout Illinois - nativeFEATURES - round leaves up to 2½ feet across; large,solitary, pale yellow flowersHABITAT - standing water, lakes, ponds, riversHABITS - flowers July-September; may form densecolonies



Kingdom Animalia Phylum ArthropodaClass MalacostracaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - 5 pairs of legs; large claw on each of thefirst pair of legsHABITAT - in water or in burrows constructed belowgroundHABITS - eats dead vegetation and small invertebrates

crayfi

sh

dra

gonfly

Populus deltoidesKingdom Plantae Division TracheophytaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - may reach 100 feet tall; bark grayand furrowed at maturity; leaves triangular; maleand female flowers on separate treesHABITAT - bottomland woodsHABITS - flowers February-March; fruits areellipsoid capsules in clusters

pit

cher-

pla

nt

east

ern

cott

onw

ood

Kingdom Animalia Phylum ArthropodaClass InsectaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - wings held outstretched at rest; chewingmouthparts; long abdomenHABITAT - adults usually found near water (in which thenymphs live)HABITS - adults feed on insects they catch while inflight; nymphs feed on aquatic insects

Sarracenia purpureaKingdom Plantae Division TracheophytaLOCATION - northeastern Illinois - nativeFEATURES - tubular green leaves streaked with purpleand red; leaf is a pitfall trap for insectsHABITAT - bogs and fensHABITS - insects and other small organisms are attractedto the leaf where they may be trapped and digested



Kingdom Animalia Phylum ArthropodaClass InsectaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - wings held above body at rest; soft-bod-ied; nymph has gills along abdomen and three tailsHABITAT - nymphs aquatic; adults near waterHABITS - nymphs eat algae and aquatic plants; adultslive for 1-2 days and do not feed

mayfl

y

muss

el

Kingdom Animalia Phylum ArthropodaClass Insecta

LOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - one pair of membranous wings; suckingmouthparts; complete metamorphosisHABITAT - adults wide-ranging; larvae in still or stagnantwaterHABITS - larvae feed on organic debris; adult femalesfeed on blood; adult males feed on nectar and plant juices

Kingdom Animalia Phylum ArthropodaClass InsectaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - wings held rooflike over body while rest-ing; slender, elongate, mothlike insectHABITAT - larvae in ponds and streams; adults near waterHABITS - larvae build a portable case and eat plantmaterial; adults feed on liquids and live about onemonthca

ddis

fly

mosq

uit

o

Kingdom Animalia Phylum MolluscaClass BivalviaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - soft inner body and hard outer shellHABITAT - streams and lakesHABITS - feeds on plankton and detritus that it filtersfrom water; may live for 100 years



channel ca

tfish

larg

em

outh

bass

Esox masquinongyKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataSuperclass OsteichthyesClass ActinopterygiiLOCATION - hatchery-stocked lakes - exoticFEATURES - body elongated; head large with duckbilljaws and canine teethHABITAT - lakesHABITS - eats fishes; female may lay up to 265,000eggs

blu

egill

musk

ellunge

Micropterus salmoidesKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataSuperclass OsteichthyesClass ActinopterygiiLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - upper jaw extends beyond back of eye whenmouth is closed; dark lateral stripe along length of bodyHABITAT - lakes, ponds, sluggish riversHABITS - eats mainly fishes and crayfish; females maylay up to 100,000 eggs

Lepomis macrochirusKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataSuperclass OsteichthyesClass ActinopterygiiLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - short, black gill flap with no margin; blackspot at posterior end of dorsal finHABITAT - sluggish streams and impoundmentsHABITS - eats insects and their larvae, crayfish, algaeand fishes; females may lay up to 67,000 eggs

Ictalurus punctatusKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataSuperclass OsteichthyesClass ActinopterygiiLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - no scales; eight barbels; adipose fin;deeply forked tail; rounded anal fin; single hard spine inpectoral and dorsal finsHABITAT - lakes, ponds, riversHABITS - eats plant and animal material; females maylay up to 70,000 eggs



Necturus maculosusKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataClass AmphibiaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - 8-13 inches; aquatic; four toes per foot;permanent bushy gills; slimyHABITAT - lakes, lagoons, rivers, large creeksHABITS - eats fishes, arthropods, annelids and mol-lusks

mudpuppy

bullfr

og

Scaphirhynchus platorynchusKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataSuperclass OsteichthyesClass ActinopterygiiLOCATION - rivers - nativeFEATURES - snout flattened and shovel-shaped;fringed barbels; upper lobe of tail fin with a long,slender filamentHABITAT - riversHABITS - eats insect larvae; females may lay asmany as 200,000 eggs b

lack

stri

pe

topm

innow

shove

lnose

sturg

eon

Lithobates catesbeianusKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataClass AmphibiaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES- 3½-6 inches; no dorsolateral folds; tympa-num larger than eye; olive, green or brown dorsum; callis “jug-o-rum” HABITAT- any type of permanent waterHABITS - solitary animal; eats most anything it canswallow

Fundulus notatusKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataSuperclass OsteichthyesClass ActinopterygiiLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - front of dorsal fin base situatedabove anal fin base; brown with a broad, blackhorizontal stripeHABITAT - large lowland rivers and pools ofstreamsHABITS - eats insects, crustaceans and snails;female may lay up to 30 eggs at once



Chelydra serpentinaKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataClass ReptiliaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - 8-12 inches; 10-35 pounds; strong jaws;enormous head, thick legs HABITAT - all types of water bodiesHABITS - spends much time on the bottom waiting forprey; eats most anything

snappin

g t

urt

le

spin

y so

ftsh

ell

turt

leNerodia sipedonKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataClass ReptiliaLOCATION – northern ½ of the state - nativeFEATURES - 24-42 inches; keeled scales;heavy-bodied; venter with numerous semilunarbrown or red markingsHABITAT - streams, lakes, pondsHABITS - active day and night; eats fishes andamphibians

spott

ed

sala

mander

nort

hern

wate

r sn

ake

Apalone spiniferaKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataClass ReptiliaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - 5-17 inches; pointed nose; leath-ery shell; anterior edge of carapace with bumpsHABITAT - lakes, sloughs, rivers, streamsHABITS - may bask on sandbar or bury itself insand at stream’s edge; eats crustaceans, fishes,amphibians, insects and mollusks

Ambystoma maculatumKingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class AmphibiaLOCATION - extreme northeastern andnorthwestern Illinois, the eastern border and thesouthern 1⁄3 of the state - nativeFEATURES - 6-73⁄4 inches; blue-black, slate orbrownish colored with two rows of yellow-whiteor orange-yellow spots from head onto tailHABITAT - high quality forested areas withpermanent or temporary pondsHABITS - active at night; eats arthropods,mollusks and annelids



Ardea herodiasKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataClass AvesLOCATION - statewide migrant and summer resident -nativeFEATURES - 42-52 inches; blue-gray color; long legs,long neck, daggerlike billHABITAT - major rivers, marshes, lakes, pondsHABITS - usually nests in colonies; eats fishes, crayfish,frogs and otheraquatic creatures

gre

at

blu

e h

ero

n

belt

ed k

ingfish

er

Agelaius phoeniceusKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataClass AvesLOCATION - migrant and summer residentstatewide; winter resident in southernIllinois - native FEATURES - male has bright red shoulderpatches; female is brown streaked; song is“konk-ka-reee”HABITAT - cultivated fields, drainage ditches,

marshes, wood edgesHABITS - eats insects,seeds and waste grain;forms huge roosts in winter

red-w

inged

bla

ckbir

d

wood d

uck

Megaceryle alcyonKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataClass AvesLOCATION - common migrant statewide; uncommonsummer resident - nativeFEATURES - blue and white coloration; harsh, rattling callHABITAT - around ponds, lakes, rivers, streamsHABITS - catches small fishes by diving; burrows intobanks to lay eggs

Aix sponsaKingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class AvesLOCATION - common migrant and summer residentstatewide - nativeFEATURES - male is highly colored, female is brown;long, square dark tailHABITAT - wooded swamps, rivers, pondsHABITS - perches in trees; eats acorns, seeds and cornin fall and insects in summer

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD



Am

eri

can m

ink

racc

oon

osp

rey

bank s

wallow

Procyon lotorKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataClass MammaliaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - long tail banded with light and dark rings;black facial maskHABITAT - any as long as a permanent water supply, densites and food are availableHABITS - climbs and swims well; eats a variety of plantand animal matter

Mustela visonKingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Mammalia

LOCATION - statewide - native

FEATURES – red-brown back; dark tip on tail; toeswebbed

HABITAT - where permanent water supply is available

HABITS - nocturnal; good swimmer; eats muskrats,fishes, voles, mice, rabbits, crayfish, birds, reptiles, am-phibians and insects

Pandion haliaetusKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataClass AvesLOCATION - statewide migrant - nativeFEATURES - shows a crook in wings while flying;broad, black cheek patchHABITAT - lakes, but may be found at rivers and pondsHABITS - eats fishes that it catches with its feet

Riparia ripariaKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataClass AvesLOCATION - common migrant and summer residentstatewide - nativeFEATURES - brown back; brown neck band; call is a dry,weak rattleHABITAT - open areas, over fields, along rivers and overlakes and pondsHABITS - needs banks associated with waterways, road-ways or mounds of sand for nest sites; nests in colonies;eats insects



Odocoileus virginianusKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataClass MammaliaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - antlers on males; conspicuous whiteunderside of tailHABITAT - wooded areas along streams and swampsHABITS - active at night and at dusk; eats waste grain,acorns and leaves and shoots of some treesw

hit

e-t

ailed d

eer

musk

rat

Am

eri

can b

eave

r

Nort

h A

meri

can

rive

r ott

er

Ondatra zibethicusKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataClass MammaliaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - tail elongated and nearly hairless; hind feetelongate and partly webbedHABITAT - ponds, lakes, streams, drainage ditches,swampsHABITS - nocturnal; eats cat-tails and other aquaticplants; may build houses of vegetation or burrow inbanks

Castor canadensisKingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Mammalia

LOCATION - statewide - native

FEATURES - broad, flattened paddlelike tail; webbedhind feet; lips close behind front teeth

HABITAT - streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, drainageditches, backwater areas

HABITS - eats bark of shrubs and trees, grasses, cornand aquatic plants; nocturnal

Lontra canadensisKingdom Animalia Phylum ChordataClass MammaliaLOCATION - statewide - nativeFEATURES - webbed toes; thick, short, brownfur; can close earsHABITAT - streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, wet-lands, drainage ditches, backwater areasHABITS - active day or night; eats fishes, frogsand crayfishes; excellent swimmer

aquatic species fact cards - illinois.gov...superclass osteichthyes class actinopterygii location -...

Documents